By Infobae, Eju.tv:

José Luis Lupo, Bolivia’s Minister of the Presidency: “We Are at a Turning Point Between the Past and the Future”

After more than two weeks of social unrest, the chief of staff explained the government’s interpretation of the country’s situation

Minister José Luis Lupo, chief of staff to Rodrigo Paz, spoke with Infobae about the conflicts in Bolivia, which for more than two weeks has been paralyzed by road blockades demanding the president’s resignation.

Lupo, a technocrat trained in multilateral organizations with experience in three previous governments, is cautious when pointing out what actions the Paz administration will take in response to the protests, but he assures that negotiations are continuing nonstop with the sectors whose demands they consider legitimate.

In this interview, the “superminister,” who accumulated powers and responsibilities as the government settled in, admitted that certain contradictions between campaign promises and public management caused social discontent. With occasional self-criticism between the lines, Lupo emphasized the government’s willingness to include all social sectors in decision-making and stated that the Economic and Social Council being created is a response to that demand.

—Minister, what is the government’s interpretation of the social protests affecting the country?

This is not a conflict like those that happen every year when there is a wage-related protest movement. Something different is happening here; we are at a turning point between the past and the future. I would separate three groups here: a wage-related protest movement; another made up of peasant sectors from western Bolivia, whom we recognize it is absolutely fair to address through a policy of social inclusion because they are historically neglected sectors; and a political movement of destabilization and attack against Bolivian democracy that comes with a single slogan, a seditious and unacceptable one, which is the resignation of the president.

—This indigenous group from the west that you mention has stated through its spokespeople that it feels excluded from decision-making. What is your opinion on that?

That is the underlying issue. What is being demanded here is not a traditional or wage-related claim, nor are they conspiratorial movements, but rather the clear recognition of a neglected sector that must be the object of an inclusive policy in order to respond to a situation of poverty and inequality. They have a list of demands covering many things, basically development opportunities and demands for inclusion.

—What does the government understand by inclusion in this context?

The western groups that gave a mandate to the government, because they clearly voted for this government, feel disappointed because they had a series of needs that are not simply solved through agreements. This is a demand for inclusion in terms of shared responsibility.

We need to work and jointly manage this vision of Bolivia with them so that it does not appear — because it has never been the president’s intention — that the country is governed for one sector or one region. We want all regions and all sectors to feel represented and also responsible for delivering concrete results.

—You mention that these sectors voted for President Paz, and they are the same sectors now pointing out contradictions between what was promised during the campaign and what has been done during the six months in office. Do you believe these observations are legitimate?

Yes, I believe so. They are legitimate, and it is in the interest of the government’s political project to achieve full inclusion and shared responsibility. There should be no confusion about this vision, which integrates the popular and rural sectors with a modern Bolivia, an exporting Bolivia. We must be capable of fully integrating these demands.

—Some ministers have accused the protesters of receiving money from drug trafficking to finance the mobilizations, but they have not gone into detail. What concrete indications does the government have that this is the case?

That is handled by the Ministry of Government and is part of state security matters; it must be managed with the necessary confidentiality and prudence. But there is clearly a political intention driven by interests that border on illegality in Bolivia.

—Where does Evo Morales fit within the map of the conflict you are describing?

At the moment when Evo Morales is calling for elections to be held within 90 days, he is entering this seditious field because what he is asking for is the president’s resignation.

—Do you believe there are interests seeking Vice President Edmand Lara to take office, given that he has openly declared himself opposed to the government?

He is an institutional and democratic vice president; he was elected as part of a ticket. This is his government; therefore, he could not be against it.

—What is the government’s plan to defuse the tension of recent days? You have mentioned cabinet reforms and the creation of the Economic and Social Council. Is there anything else?

The Economic and Social Council is simply the first step: opening the door, discussing our reality, examining our participation, and how we organize ourselves to achieve greater inclusion of these sectors and address the development demands of the communities. This is the most important issue and it must emerge from dialogue. That is our proposal, and we are waiting for it to materialize.

—The government’s agenda includes drafting a package of ten laws. What is your plan to prevent this process from triggering new conflicts, and how is coordination with the Legislature progressing for their approval?

There are three stages. The first is the drafting of the law, which is almost finished. The second is approval in the Assembly, for which a working basis has been created with the different parties. And the most important stage is the implementation of the laws, which depends on proper public outreach and the level of understanding among the different sectors. The Economic and Social Council will be an extremely important body for explaining and socializing the laws.

—On another matter, I wanted to ask you about the distrust that the rapprochement with the United States and international financial organizations has generated in some sectors. To what extent are the government’s decisions conditioned by these new relationships?

To no extent whatsoever, and I say this with complete clarity: zero. Bolivia has zero international conditioning. We are doing our work convinced that this is the only sustainable model. Bolivia needed stability; that is what we are building. It is the foundation for everything else. No organization or country conditions this; it is our own model, which we believe is the only viable one.

—Given the terrible social cost of the blockades in La Paz, what deadline does the government have to put an end to these conflicts?

As soon as possible. We are acting with a total sense of urgency. We know it has already been many days in which the population has been suffering, and we truly empathize with that situation. We ask for a little patience because we are acting with great responsibility and prudence.

By Carlos Corz